Proponents for Amendment F are asking South Dakota voters to vote ‘Yes’ this November to impose a work requirement on eligible individuals who are not diagnosed as being mentally or physically disabled in order to receive Medicaid under the Medicaid expa

Proponents for Amendment F are asking South Dakota voters to vote ‘Yes’ this November to impose a work requirement on eligible individuals who are not diagnosed as being mentally or physically disabled in order to receive Medicaid under the Medicaid expansion that took effect on July 1, 2023.

Proponent and State Representative Tony Venhuizen is asking for voters to support Amendment F, which will allow the state legislature to establish work requirements for individuals who are eligible for Medicaid.

“Amendment F is based on the idea that social welfare programs are a hand-up for people facing tough times but should not be a way of life. This is why I sponsored this proposal, along with my Senate Sponsor, Senator Casey Crabtree of Madison,” Venhuizen said.

Medicaid expansion was approved by South Dakota voters in 2022 and Venhuizen feels that the state has done a good job implementing it.

“Traditional Medicaid, which existed prior to 2022, covers children, the elderly, the disabled, and pregnant women. Medicaid expansion covers working-aged, able-bodied adults” he said.

The current language of the Medicaid expansion amendment says that the state cannot impose any requirements on Medicaid expansion recipients that are not also imposed on traditional Medicaid recipients.

“The problem with that, though, is that you’d never impose a work requirement on traditional Medicaid, it wouldn’t make sense for children, the elderly, or the disabled. A work requirement could make sense, though, for working-age, able-bodied adults,” Venhuizen said.

Venhuizen believes that Amendment F does not enact a work requirement, but simply removed the prohibition from the state constitution so future legislatures could consider a work requirement.

“South Dakota has work requirements for other social programs such as SNAP and so we know how to administer a work requirement,” he said.

If Amendment F is passed and a work requirement is implemented in the future, the work requirement for Medicaid expansion would need to be approved by the federal government.

“During the Trump Administration, several were approved, but the Biden Administration canceled those approvals. Even if this amendment passes, we would have to wait for a supportive federal administration to approve a work requirement, that could be this year, or it could be in another four years,” Venhuizen said.

Hopeful voters will start the ball rolling on a work requirement, Venhuizen encourages all to show their support on Nov. 5.

“If Amendment F passes, and if a future federal administration is supportive, the state could at that point consider whether to enact a work requirement that would likely be very similar to the requirements for other programs, and would include reasonable exceptions such as for students, parents caring for children, or those with serious health issues,” he said.